Asking fellow reporters for their thoughts about a team

[hockeybeat]

I am working on a story about a team that I have not seen much of this season. As such, I'm thinking about talking to fellow reporters about said team. Is it kosher if I write, "Team X observers say..."?

 

[mike311gd]

I wouldn't.

 

[Moderator1]

Who are the observers? Fans? Team workers? Must identify. Not a bad idea to get 1-2 who have some credibility. Not a tool you want to use often but I did it a time or two and it worked out OK. Mostly for "scouting report" type stories when area teams played in postseason.

 

[hockeybeat]

Who are the observers? Fans? Team workers? Must identify. Not a bad idea to get 1-2 who have some credibility. Not a tool you want to use often but I did it a time or two and it worked out OK. Mostly for "scouting report" type stories when area teams played in postseason.

I guess I'd use observers to refer to veteran reporters that have covered Team X.

 

[Ace]

Don't do it.

I would talk to someone who covers the team and then use stats to make the points rather than their observations.

 

[spnited]

Do not quote other writers.

 

[beardpuller]

I'd ask, to inform my own perspective, but I wouldn't quote a writer. Unless I was detailing some sort of controversy -- "Mudville fans and media have been sharply critical of Joe Blow's 12-game playoff scoreless streak. In the Mudville Press, so and so wrote ..."

If we're talking about hockey here, isn't there a Pierre McGuire or a Bill Clement you can check in with? In other sports, I'm sure there are those types of guys, as well, media with playing or coaching cred. I've always preferred that to quoting other writers.

 

[hockeybeat]

Thanks, all, for your thoughts.

 

[slappy4428]

Ask Norm Maclean.

 

[hockeybeat]

Ask Norm Maclean.

Saw him during the NHL playoffs. He looks like death barely warmed over.

 

[slappy4428]

Ask Norm Maclean.

Saw him during the NHL playoffs. He looks like death barely warmed over.

So he's looking better, then...

 

[fremont]

I'd ask, to inform my own perspective, but I wouldn't quote a writer.

That's me too. Especially since I'm strictly freelance now I might be given a team that's in the playoffs having never seen them before. I might try to get an idea of what they're like, who to watch. But what goes in print is based on what I see and/or the observations of people who are involved in the story.

 

[Twoback]

Just curious: why are so many of you OK with quoting a TV type but not a writer?

 

[Mizzougrad96]

People do this all the time...

People who work at 10,000 circ weekly papers and can't get anybody of substance on the record.

Don't do it. Don't even think about doing it.

 

[sportsed]

I've seen some otherwise very respectable writers do this and I've always thought it was lazy reporting. In fact, I've told them so.

I wouldn't do this. Better yet, I would be pissed if someone quoted me about a team I covered.

The idea that reporters can talk with each other is fine. But the purpose should be for background. Once pointed in the right direction, you then are armed with the info to ask intelligent questions of real sources.

As with most everything in life, though, there are exceptions. However, the vague example that prompted this topic doesn't seem to come close to justifying its use.

Just my three cents.

 

[Oggiedoggie]

I believe that I've come across a solution to this dilemma.

When I need quotes about a team, but cannot find anyone with the general background that is willing to talk, I steal a sweat sock from the locker room.

Then, I put it over my hand and ask it any question I please.

In the story, I identify the sock as a "source close to the team."

 

[beardpuller]

Just curious: why are so many of you OK with quoting a TV type but not a writer?

In the instances I cited, the TV guys either played or coached in the league. That would be the basis of their expertise. To me, network analysts occupy a slightly different spot ... not quite fellow journalists. But maybe others feel differently.

 

[Cristiano_Ronaldo]

The Seattle Times quoted a Baltimore Sun Orioles beat guy when writing their "Is Erik Bedard a ****?" story...

 

[Hammer Pants]

I talk to other beat guys all the time (especially for big out-of-conference games), but I can't imagine quoting them. And I hope they'd never quote me. It's just background knowledge, and maybe some notebook quote-swapping.

Last football season, I made a quip that caused one of the other team's beat guys to laugh for about an hour. He anonymously attributed the quote on his blog, and I didn't care. For a blog, it was funny, and the team I cover has enough beat guys that no one could ever track it back to me.

I can't imagine anyone using me as a serious quote. Then again, we're all doing radio interviews all the time, now, anyway. Still, I wouldn't do it.

 

[beardpuller]

The Seattle Times quoted a Baltimore Sun Orioles beat guy when writing their "Is Erik Bedard a ****?" story...

That might be the kind of instance where you could do it -- if part of the piece deals with how he interacts with the media.